Simile of an old jackal with mange for acquisitions, respect, and popularity (SN 17.8)

... as being vicious, bitter, and severe; as obstructive to the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

Rio Verde, Alfredo Arreguín, c. 2017 (Courtesy of Linda Hodges Gallery)

At Sāvatthi.

“Bhikkhus, acquisitions, respect, and popularity are vicious, bitter, and severe; they obstruct the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

Bhikkhus, have you heard an old jackal howling during the early hours of the night, at the break of dawn?”

“Yes, venerable sir.”

“That old jackal, bhikkhus, afflicted by a disease called mange, finds no delight whether he enters his den, rests at the foot of a tree, or lingers in the open air. Wherever he goes, wherever he stands, wherever he sits or lies down, there he meets with only misfortune and disaster.

In the same way, bhikkhus, a certain bhikkhu here who is overwhelmed by acquisitions, respect, and popularity, with his mind consumed by them, finds no enjoyment whether he goes to an empty dwelling, to the foot of a tree, or in the open air. Wherever he goes, wherever he stands, wherever he sits or lies down, there he meets with only misfortune and disaster.

Thus, bhikkhus, acquisitions, respect, and popularity are vicious, bitter, and severe; they obstruct the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: ‘We will abandon the arisen acquisitions, respect and popularity, and we will not let the arisen acquisitions, respect, and popularity to continue occupying our minds.’ Thus, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves.”

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Key Terms:

• acquisitions [lābhā] ≈ gain, money, profit, possessions
• respect [sakkāra] ≈ honor, accolade, reverence
• popularity [siloka] ≈ fame, praise
• mange [ukkaṇḍaka] ≈ a type of skin disease caused by parasitic mites
• consumed [pariyādiṇṇa] ≈ obsessed, controlled
• occupying [pariyādāya] ≈ obsessing, controlling

Related Teachings:

• Acquisitions, respect, and popularity cut through deeply (SN 17.28) - The Buddha compares acquisitions, respect, and popularity to a destructive force that cuts through deeply, and obstructs the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.
• Reviewing one's failings and successes from time to time (AN 8.7) - The Buddha advises the bhikkhus to review their own failings and the failings of others, and to overcome acquisitions, loss, fame, disrepute, honor, dishonor, evil wishes, and evil friendship.
• With a mind consumed by acquisitions, respect, and popularity (SN 17.13 - 17.20) - The Buddha uses different similes to explain how acquisitions, respect, and popularity are harsh, bitter, and severe, obstructing the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.